Folding bed construction



Maj? 30, 1950 L. B. TURNER FOLDING BED CONSTRUCTION Filed April 21 61 33AM l 28c FIG. 4 2 84 [:1

INVENTOR T 'r o RNEY Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING BED CONSTRUCTION Leslie B. Turner, Cowan, Ind.

Application April 21, 1948, Serial No. 22,327

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in equipment intended for facilitating the care, and providing for the comfort of babies in the period of their infancy. My invention has proceeded upon the concept of the desirability of a bed structure capable of being folded, and of the combination therewith of a foldable crib which may be made conveniently available for the reception of the baby and wherein it may be contained comfortably and safely.

' Also I have taken into account the desirability of the device in its entirety being portable, and of its being susceptible of application readily to use not only in the home or nursery, but also in places remote, and under conditions of inconvenience which are incident to traveling and when usual facilities for proper care and comfort and safety of the infant are lacking.

The object of my invention, broadly stated, is to provide a device affording the advantages mentioned, which is neat in appearance, economical of manufacture and merchandising, and is durable and dependable. The said general object, as well as other and more specific aims as will presently appear, are accomplished by, and my invention is embodied in the new construction, combination and arrangement of parts described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The different parts of the invention are identified by suitable characters of reference applied to them in the several views in the said drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of my new folding bed as it appears in folded status.

Figure 2 is a side view showing the appearance of the invention when in the fully unfolded status and in readiness for use.

Figure 3 is an end view in the direction of arrow 3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional top plan view taken on the broken line 4-4 in the direction of arrow 4 in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross section view taken on the broken line 5--5 in the direction of arrow 5 in Figure 4. a

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view indicating the relative positions of the parts when the bed is in the status not fully unfolded, (the lower end portion of each of the bars of the obverse upper connector assembly being broken away), and in which said status the end frames are in positions inclined slightly toward each other, as indicated by the broken lines in Figure 2.

, Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view indicating the draft and pawl device as it appears when swung to position in readiness to be operated. In this view the lower end portion of each of the bars of the obverse upper connector assembly is broken away.

Figure 8 is a view indicating the relative positions of the parts when the bed is in the status fully unfolded as shown in Figure 2, and in which said fully unfolded status the end frames are in the solid line positions, and the draft and pawl device have been operated to locked position. In this view (Figure 8) the lower end portion. of each of the bars of the obverse upper connector assembly is broken away.

Figure 9 is a vertical cross section on broken line 9-9 in Figure 3, the lower end portions of the bars of the said obverse upper connector assembly being not broken away.

Figure 10 is a detached enlarged view showing the pivotal coupling of the upper end portions of the pairs of bars of the lower connector assembly, as seen in the direction of arrow 9 in Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a detached enlarged fragmentary view of the pivotal coupling of the bars of the upper connector assemblies.

Figure 12 is a detached enlarged view of the meeting portions of the bars of the connector assemblies in the folded status indicated in Figure 1, the position of the draft and lock device being indicated by broken lines.

Each of two similar frames, and which are arranged in spaced confronting relation, consists of a length of metal tubing, preferably steel, bent to arched formation and embodying side portions which I designate as posts l6, I8, 20 and 22..

Rigidly interconnecting the posts of each of said frames at its lower portion is a cross member.

I1, and at its median portion, a cross member [9. Integrated with the confronting faces of the posts of said frames, at their upper portions, are

bearings 23 and 23; and at their lower portions,-

arranged side by side in spaced relation, have their proximal ends pivotally coupled by wrist pins 29. The lower or remote ends of the bars 28a, 28b, 28c and 28d of said sections are pivotally connected to the said bearings 25 and 25 of the:

posts [6 and 20; and the bearings 25 and 25 of the posts l8 and 22 as by cross pins. Between the said bars 28a and 280 and between the bars,

28b and 2811 at points equidistant from the center of said wrist pin 29 are secured similar fulcrum studs 3!.

Oppositely arranged upper longitudinal connector assemblies are composed each of complemental sections each of which said sections consists of a light metal bar. They have their proximal ends pivotally coupled by pintles 32, and the remote ends are pivotally connected to the bearings 23 and 23 of the posts It and 20, and t the bearings 23 and 23 of the posts l8 and 22 as by cross pins. The said bars are positioned free between the bars 28a and 280, and between the bars 282) and 28d of the sections of said first named or lower assemblies, and in criss cross relation thereto as indicated in Figure 2.

A transverse reach rod 33 has its ends integrated with said pintles 32 in axial alignment therewith and it will be presently referred to.

The said fulcrum studs 3! and 3! spaced as shown, function as stops to limit the distance to which the frames are to be expanded. They also function, as fulcrums for the bars 38a and 38b and as will presently be explained. The positions of the frames when primarly expanded, and before being completely erected and locked in erected position are indicated by the broken lines in Figure 2, the bars 38a and 38b being in engagement with said studs 3i and Si. At this stage the relative positions of the meeting portions of said connector assemblies are as indicated in Figure 6.

A draft and lock structure manually operable to draw the centers 29 (wrist pins) and 32 (pintles of transverse reach rod 33) toward each other, and to hold them in strained relation consists of opposed upright arms 34 and 33 which have their upper ends integrated with said wrist pins 29. Their lower portions have right angle bends 35 of predetermined length, and thence a second bend 36 and extensions 3! which are in parallelism with the reach rod 33. The said extensions are received in the opposite ends of a transverse sleeve 40 which is of length to span the distance between the bends 36 of said arms. .At a point near each end of said sleeve is integrated a pawl 42 with rounded nose 43, and provided with a notch 44 located a short distance (as indicated in Figure 6) from the axial center of said sleeve 40. Interjoining the ends of said pawls is transverse handle bar 35.

Integrated with the posts of said frames, at their upper portions and above the plane of the bearings 23 and 23 are eyelets 48.

A crib, rectangular in plan formation, and made of flexible material as duck, canvas or the like, has the sides 54, ends 55, and bottom 56. Said bottom is provided with elongated straps 51 tapered in plan formation and which extend from the ends of said bottom their free ends being narrowed in width. These straps are adapted to be passed over the cross members I9 of the frames, and then to be brought about to position immediately underneath and in engagement with the bottom of the crib, and to be there drawn together and fastened by buckles 6i, buckles of the web type being preferred. Said straps are supported against sagging as by conventional loops 64 suitably spaced.

At the upper marginal portions of the ends of said crib, are secured straps 59 as of webbing the free portions thereof bein passed through the eyelets 48 and about the frame posts, thence through loops 60, and then drawn and secured together as by suitable web buckles, as indicated by character 62.

Installing the crib consists of tightening the straps 59, the end Walls of the crib thereby being drawn taut; then tightening the straps 51, the bottom of the crib thereby being drawn taut. At this stage, as above stated, the end frames, as indicated in Figure 2, are in positions inclined slightly toward each other.

The invention, in the folded status, is compact, restricted in dimensions, and is capable of being easily picked up and transported. In said status the several parts are in the relative positions as shown in Figure 1, the members of the connector bar assemblies being in close coengaging relation, and the crib being collapsed and contained substantially within the zone bounded by the end frames.

The first step in applying the invention to use consists of setting the structure in upright position on the floor, then grasping the frames at their median portions and moving them to expanded positions, the extent of said movement being limited by the bars 38a and 38b of the upper connector assemblies coming into engage= ment with the lugs 3| and 3i of the pairs of bars 23a-28c and the pairs of bars 2822-4803 of the lower connector assemblies. The invention now appears as in Figure 2, it being understood that the frames are not as yet completely erected, and at this stage they lean slightly toward each other, and Whereas the structure is firmly self supporting, its members have not as yet become interlocked.

The final step consists of the user applying a hand to either of the ends of the handlebar 45 and of moving it in the direction of arrow P and to raised or broken line position indicated in Figure 6, then moving same in reverse direction whence in releasing it the notches 44 of the pawls click to engagement with the reach rod 33. (See Figure 7.) Then upon depressing and moving the handle in the direction of arrow 0- its full stroke to the position shown in Figure 8 the axial center of the bends 36 of the arms 34 will have passed the vertical plane 63 of the centers 29 and 32 and to rest withthe bends 35 of said arms 34, and the notches 44 of the pa-Wls hard against the said reach rod 33. I

By the transaction above described the center 32 will have been drawn toward center 23 and the fulcrum studs 3| thereby becoming impinged against the connector bars 38a and 381), said bars are urged exp'ansively in opposed directions, thereb the tautness of the crib being increased to tautness of such degree that the crib is of the desired stability. At the same time the names will have been fully expanded, and with the parts interlocked as above described the structure is rigid and substantial, and is resistive of any tendency to become distorted or weakened.

Procedure in folding the structure consists of applying force to the handle bar 35 in the direction of arrow Q (see Figure 8) the centers of the bends 36 passing the vertical line 63 and to position disengaged from the reach rod 33 whence the centers 32 yield their positions. The bars 33a and 38b now are free and together with the frames will have been unlocked. The frames may now be moved toward each other and to proximal positions, the several bars of the connector assemblies being brought into interengaging and closed relation, and the draft and pawl device being in the out of the way position indicated in Figure 12.- The flexible crib at the same time will have col lapsed and become folded and contained substantially within the space bounded by the frames. The invention now appears as in Figure 1.

Whereas in the embodiment of my invention herein described and illustrated I have shown details of construction and arrangement found practicable, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as it is defined in the claims, without departing from the spirit and principle of my invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A folding bed construction comprising confronting upright end frames, sets of longitudinal connector assemblies, the assemblies of each set consisting each of complemental elongated sections pivotally coupled end to end, the sections of the assemblies of one half the number of sets being longer than, and arranged in criss cross relation to and in free sliding engagement with the sections of the assemblies of the other half of the number of sets, the remote ends of the shorter sections of said assemblies being pivotally connected to said frames at their lower portions, and the remote ends of the longer sections of said assemblies being pivotally connected to the said frames at their upper portions, fulcrum studs integrated with the said shorter sections at points equidistant from the pivotal centers of the coupled ends of said sections, and devices interconnectible with the pivotal connections of the 0 longer sections of said assemblies and the pivotal connections of the shorter sections of said assemblies, manually operable in one direction to strain said connections toward each other and to lock.

them in strained position, whereby the connector assemblies and end frames are interlocked against movement, and said devices being operable in reverse direction whereby said connections are relieved from strain and the connector assemblies and end frames are unlocked for movement.

2. A bed construction of the kind described comprising opposed confronting upright end frames, four connector assemblies each consisting of complemental elongated sections pivotally coupled end to end, the sections of two of said assemblies being longer than, and arranged loosely in criss cross slidable engagement with the sections of the other two assemblies, the remote ends of the said shorter sections being pivotally connected to said frames at their lower portions, and the remote ends of the said longer sections being pivotall connected to said frames at their upper portions, fulcrum studs integrated with said shorter sections at points thereon equidistant from the pivotal center of the coupled ends of said sections, and a device carried by said shorter sections, interengageable with said longer sections, manually operable in one direction to engage and to draw the coupled ends of the longer sections toward the coupled ends of the said shorter sections and to lock them in strained relation, said device being operable in reverse direction to unlock said sections and to release them from said strained relation.

3. A folding bed comprising opposed confronting upright frames, connector assemblies each consisting of two sections, each of said sections composed of bars spaced side by side and pivotal'ly coupled end to end, and their remote ends pivotally connected to the said frames at their lower portions, fulcrum studs between the bars of each section located at a point equidistant from the pivotal center of their coupling, connector assemblies each consisting of two sections, each of said sections composed of a bar, said bars being longer than, and being arranged in criss cross relation to and slidingly between the bars of the first above named sections, and said bars at their remote ends being pivotally connected to said frames at their upper portions, a flexible crib having the upper corners of the ends thereof detachably secured to the upper portions of the sides of said frames, and having the ends of its bottom portion detachably secured to the said frames at their intermediate portions, means manually operable to draw the crib taut when the frames will have been expanded to the point wherein the fulcrums engage the longer connector bars, and a device interconnecting the sections of one connector assembly and the sections of the other connector assembly, manually operable in one direction to draw the coupled ends of said sections toward each other and lock them in strained relation,

. said device being operable to unlock said sections and to release them from said strained relation.

LESLIE B. TURNER.

No references cited. 

